Policy and strategy

Browse through archived news about policy, strategy and elections from national and local Government.


  • Welfare Reform Bill - keeping carers up to date

    Wednesday 04, January 2012

  • Energy Assistance Package for carers launched

    Friday 28, October 2011

    Carers in receipt of Carers Allowance will qualify for free energy assistance help, as new regulations extend the eligibility for the Energy Assistance Package.

  • Carers urged to get the flu jab

    Friday 28, October 2011

    Carer are being urged to get the flu vaccine as early as possible. Unpaid carers, including young carers are eligible the vaccine which gives protection against three strains of influenza, including H1N1.

  • The way forward for drug & alcohol recovery

    Friday 30, September 2011

  • City of Edinburgh’s Housing Strategy focus group

    Friday 22, July 2011

    VOCAL is hosting a focus group for carers on the City of Edinburgh’s Housing Strategy on Tuesday 9th August at 10.30 am

  • Scotland's dementia strategy - one year on report

    Thursday 16, June 2011

    The Scottish Government have published the first annual report on Scotland's National Dementia Strategy, and marked the end of year one with the publiciation of two documents; Standards of Care for Dementia in Scotland and Promoting Excellence.

  • Carer have high profile in Scottish Elections 2011

    Friday 22, April 2011

    Carers have a high profile in the Scottish Parliament elections in 2011 – the carers voice has been present in election manifestos, hustings, press coverage and television debates, and rightly so.

  • Scottish Election 2011 - Thursday 5th May

    Thursday 07, April 2011

    This year’s elections could be decided by the votes of Scotland’s 657,000 unpaid carers – and that’s why it’s important that political parties and candidates make sure support for carers is a key part of their pre election promises.

  • "A Scotland Fit for Carers" - Election Hustings 21st March 2011

    Monday 21, March 2011

    VOCAL, in partnership with the Coalition of Carers in Scotland, will host a high profile election hustings on Monday 21 March 2011 at the Roxburghe Hotel in Edinburgh. The event provides an opportunity for carers to ask questions of MSPs prior to the Scottish Parliament elections in May.

  • Welfare Reform Bill and Carers Allowance

    Friday 18, February 2011

    The publication of the Welfare Reform Bill today confirms that Carer’s Allowance will remain separate from the proposed Universal Credit affecting other benefits such as Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support.